The Arbiter Vol. 35 Issue 11 2.23.23

Editor-In-Chief

Andrea Teres - Martinez editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Online Editor

Kelby Andrew onlineeditor@stumedia.boisestate.edu

News Editor Brydon Black news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

News Reporter

Kate Jacobson

News Reporter

Kiryn Willett

Culture Editor

Hanalei Potempa culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Culture Reporter

Emily Gordon

Sports & Rec Editor

Adam Bridges sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Sports & Rec Reporter

Marlei Soderquist

Opinion Editor

Kiyah Henson opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Copy Editor

Kelly Ann Asker copy@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Social Media Coordinator

Amy Brennan

Digital Content Manager

Taya Thornton digitalcontent@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Digital Content Producer

Elise Ledesma

Graphic Design Manager

Sasha White design@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Graphic Designer

Dorothy Martin

Illustrator

Sydney Smith

Distributed every few weeks during the academic school year and online daily, The Arbiter is the official independent student newspaper of Boise State University, where student editors make all content decisions and bear responsibility for those decisions. The Arbiter’s budget consists of fees paid by the student body and advertising sales. The first copy is free. Additional copies can be purchased for $1 a piece at The Arbiter offices.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

ON THE COVER:

For many years, Boise State has been nationally recognized as a football school. a new player may take on the mantle: men’s basketball. After a successful 2021-2022 season, the Boise State men’s basketball team has a promising future ahead under the leadership of head coach Leon Rice.

HOW TO REACH US:

CONTACT US: editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu 208.426.6302

PHYSICAL LOCATION:

Located on first floor of Lincoln Avenue Garage Suites

MISSION:

As a student-run organization, we produce accurate and hyper-local information through non-partisan and socially responsible media.

MAILING ADDRESS: Student Media MS 1340

1910 W University Dr. Boise, ID 83725-1340

THE GHOST SHOW

The Student Involvement and Leadership Center hosted the first annual Black Tie Affair on Feb. 11, a semi-formal event open to all Boise State students. Elise Ledesma | The Arbiter

ROUND 2: ASBSU DELEGATES PASS NEW CONSTITUTION PROPOSAL

A student vote on the constitution will be held pending approval by university administration

Brydon Black | News Editor | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

On Feb. 10, constitutional convention delegates of the Associated Students of Boise State University (ASBSU) passed a revised version of Honors College Sen. Ethan LaHaug’s constitution, 8-5.

The five “no” votes came from Inclusive Excellence Student Council (IESC) delegates, Funding Board delegates and student at large Fenix Dietz.

The new constitution is similar to LaHaug’s previous proposal, which delegates also passed last semester. If approved, the new constitution would dissolve the IESC and Funding Board into a new threebranch system modeled after the United States government. Additionally, the new constitution would add 29 elected positions and move the Funding Board to the executive branch.

Under the current constitution, the entire Senate and Assembly are appointed. Under LaHaug’s proposal, the Senate would instead be elected, as would the ethics officer.

University administration will have the final say on whether the constitution goes forward to a student vote, where it will need at least 500 votes and a majority to pass.

Day One: Debate

ASBSU delegates met on Friday, Feb. 3 for the first formal day of their constitutional convention. The formal meeting of delegates included reports from delegate constituents, proposals of a new constitution, debate over one proposal and 15 minutes of student testimony.

Only one constitution of the two posted on ASBSU’s website was discussed, Ethan LaHaug’s. The other constitution was drafted by Fenix Dietz, who was unable to make the convention for personal reasons.

The debate mirrored much of the discourse that took place last semester during the first constitutional convention.

During the debate, two IESC and Funding Board delegates opposed the new changes over concerns of a rushed constitutional process and their diminished roles in student government.

The remaining eight delegates were in favor of the new constitution, with LaHaug and ASBSU President Adam Jones being the most vocal proponents.

Proponents argued that the new constitution would make ASBSU more accessible for students, distribute power among all three branches and avoid Title IX violations by renaming positions such as the racial and ethnic minority representative.

Jones made similar arguments, saying that after speaking with university lawyers, he didn’t receive a clear response on whether or not the current positions violate Title IX.

VPIE Melanie Figueroa Zavala argued that since the positions aren’t paid, they couldn’t violate Title IX, and Jones responded that the positions don’t have to be paid.

“As someone who has firsthand experience in these communities, as well as worked in this position for these communities, I can tell you right now that there is a way to word this question in which it does not need to violate Title IX in order to have these positions still exist,” Zavala said.

Other points of discussion centered around the removal of the paid IESC officer positions and four assembly positions, as well as the introduction of six new underrepresented representatives.

The first day ended with 15 minutes of student testimonials, where nine students

voiced opposition to the proposed constitution and one expressed approval.

Day 2: Vote

Delegates gathered on Feb. 10, to present constituent reports and explain why they would vote for or against the proposed constitutions.

According to LaHaug, students he interacted with spoke to campus-wide problems such as parking, food service, involvement and the university’s connection to local business.

He went on to say that none of the students he spoke with articulated a desire to focus on critical or intersectional theory, or to mandate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). He said a “small and vocal minority” of students who do care about DEI sent “mean spirited” messages to himself and others calling them racist and radical.

Diego Tapia gave an emotional speech talking about the IESC’s student outreach efforts over the semester. Tapia said from the 282 respondents to their survey, 189 believed representation was listed as a top issue. 23% of respondents said they knew little about the constitution process, and neary 42% said they didn’t know the convention was taking place.

“The big question we asked students [is] whether or not marginalized voices should be included in decision-making amongst ASBSU,” Tapia said. “A resounding 96.5% of students said that they should. Some even gave amazing testimony as to how ASBSU should strive to be more inclusive and accepting of all students no matter what, and that they believed by keeping the IESC as it is now, that this would be done.”

University administration and Boise State students will have a final say on whether to pass ASBSU’s new constitution. Brydon Black | The Arbiter

BOISE MOVES FORWARD WITH APPLICATION TO REOPEN PIONEER RAILROAD LINE

Passenger line could bring many benefits to the Boise State community

Kate Jacobson | News Reporter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Amtrak’s Pioneer line used to run 24 hours a day, carrying passengers from Portland, Oregon, to Boise, Idaho, to Salt Lake City, Utah, and back. In 1997, however, the last Amtrack left the Boise Depot, and the city hasn’t had a passenger train since.

As part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the federal government recently earmarked over $60 billion to improve and restore train systems across the United States. Part of this bill requires that the Federal Railroad Administration conduct

studies to assess the feasibility of reopening all discontinued railroad lines in the country.

This includes the Pioneer line running through Boise, and city officials have made it clear they are more than willing to assist the study.

In January, the Boise Metro Chamber hosted a discussion panel on the possibility of using federal dollars to help revive the Pioneer line.

“We have a presidential administration that loves railroads and has dedicated hundreds of billions of dollars to Amtrak, so

why not take advantage of this opportunity right now?” said Bill Connors, president and CEO of the Boise Metro Chamber. “We’ve talked to mayors of every city from Caldwell to Kuna to Mountain Home to Pocatello to Salt Lake, and everybody is on board with this.”

Applications to the federal government are due in March, after which they will fully fund the study to determine what it would take to reopen the line.

The City of Boise is taking the lead in submitting an application with help from the Boise Metro Chamber who is “coor-

dinating the actual support from up and down the line,” according to Connors.

If the Pioneer line were to be reopened, Connors said that this could also potentially allow for a high-speed transit route to be established in the Treasure Valley, which could replace many people’s current means of commuting.

“We’ve been asking for years and years for some kind of transit in this valley,” Connors said. “We really need it with all this growth that we have, and if we could actually create a transit route, that would be a wonderful result of all of this.”

The addition of a local transit route could be useful to the many off-campus students that have to commute to Boise State from other parts of the Treasure Valley.

The federal study is expected to be completed in the next two years. If reopening the Pioneer line is deemed feasible, it could begin operations in the next five to 10 years.

Roughly 34% of Boise State students come from out of state, according to Boise State’s enrollment data, with many students coming from Idaho’s surrounding states such as Oregon and Utah.

Environmental studies major Pia Goodell, who grew up in Portland, is in her second year at Boise State. Goodell said she only makes it home two or three times per school year because “it can be a pain to get back.”

“Over Thanksgiving, I drove and ended up having to get winter tires for the way back because the roads were sketchy up in the (mountains),” Goodell said. “I would definitely use the Amtrak if we had one because you don’t have to worry. You have WiFi, comfortable space, a bathroom and you can do homework on the way.”

Reopening the Pioneer line would give students an alternative option to driving or flying from out of state, which could be especially useful during the winter months when road conditions are often poor.

The City of Boise will submit an application to the federal government to revive the Amtrack Pioneer line, a high-speed transit route that connects Boise to Portland and Salt Lake City.

Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress

BIDEN ADMINISTRATION PLANS TO RAISE STUDENT VISA FEES

Student visa fees will be raised for the first time in six years to cover refugee costs

Kiryn Willett | News Reporter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

The same is true of asylum seekers. According to Angel Venegas, a legal assistant specializing in asylum, the decision to leave is often one of life or death.

“I would say that it’s very important that [fees] stay low, because they really left with nothing. They came just themselves,” Venegas said.

The USCIS has experienced a significant backlog in the past few years, partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but also partly due to the Trump administration’s attempt to raise fees for those with disabilities entering the U.S. on the former president’s way out of office.

On Jan. 3, the Biden administration proposed a plan to raise fees for various immigrant visa applications. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) asked for additional funding and was denied by Congress.

Now, the USCIS is proposing its first fee changes since 2016. The fee raises apply to temporary work visas and green card applications. The plan has entered a 60-day period for public commentary.

The fee raise will apply to two visas commonly used by students, the Optional Practical Training (OPT) and STEM OPT visas. The fees for employment authorization documentation will rise from $410 to $550.

According to Ruth Prince, director of International Student and Scholar Services, the impact the raise will have on students varies based on their personal financial situation.

“I have a sense it won’t impact that much because you know, this work authorization is a really valuable part of coming here and getting your degree,” Prince said. “But it’s a big increase for sure.”

According to Prince, Boise State has around 300 international students from approximately 75 different countries spread across undergraduate and graduate levels, all the way up to Ph.D.

The initial H-1B visa fee will also jump significantly. The initial fee for an H-1B visa, paid for by the employer, will rise

from $470 to $1,595. The H-1B visa is used to hire international professionals in a “special occupation” with a bachelor’s degree or a bachelor’s degree equivalent.

The costs of the visa may discourage some employers from hiring workers outside of the United States.

The fee raises are proposed to keep costs for refugees and asylum seekers low or free.

According to Sophie McKinley, legal representative for the International Rescue Committee, Boise has a surprisingly large refugee population, with around 330 Afghans last year on top of other refugees that were resettled to Boise.

“It’s just not realistic to expect a refugee family a year after getting there with no safety net to pay,” McKinley said.

“We have a ton of people pushing these applications out, trying to get them in before the fees were raised, which didn’t end up happening,” McKinley said. “But what that created was just the surplus citizenship application going to USCIS has created a huge backlog. We still have people who applied for citizenship at that time who are waiting on their interviews.”

According to McKinley, even a relatively modest application fee can quickly stack up for a family. A $50 fee, which was proposed by the Trump administration but never enacted, would be unattainable for most families. Refugees cannot work for one year after arriving in the U.S., meaning most arrive without funds and without any way to earn money in the foreseeable future.

H-1B visa fees and the fees for employment authorization documentation will see notable price increases under the changes proposed by the USCIS. Photo courtesy of Boise State University

“It’s just not realistic to expect a refugee family a year after getting there with no safety net to pay.”

- Sophie McKinley, legal representative for the International Rescue Committee

ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS IDAHO COMBAT THE EXPANDING FENTANYL CRISIS

The prevalence of fentanyl in Idaho is growing exponentially

Kate Jacobson | News Reporter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

On Jan. 9, Gov. Brad Little unveiled his “Idaho First” plan at the State of the State Address.

“The people of Idaho have given us a mandate: to stay on course, put Idaho first and continue down this path of prosperity,” Little said at the address.

Putting Idaho first, according to Little, includes investing in education, tax relief and infrastructure.

Also included in the Idaho First plan is “fighting fentanyl,” which is a unique addition to similar plans established in the

past. In fact, as part of the 2023-24 fiscal year budget, Little allocated an ongoing $1.6 million to the Idaho State Police to develop a statewide drug interception team to respond to the ongoing fentanyl crisis.

The budget also provides a one-time allocation of $721,000 for the expansion of drug testing and fentanyl training in the Department of Correction.

Since the end of 2021, the Boise Police Department has issued over 500 charges related to fentanyl, including over 100 charges for selling/trafficking, according to a public records request.

The Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program was established by the Federal government in 1999 to facilitate collaboration between law enforcement agencies to combat drug trafficking in and around Oregon and Idaho. In the past year, the program has put extra focus on combating increases in fentanyl and educating the population on the topic.

Fentanyl is particularly dangerous because oftentimes the user is unaware that the drug they’re taking contains fentanyl. In Idaho, fentanyl is most commonly found in small blue pills made to look like

prescription oxycodone.

The Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program confiscated 1.5 million of these counterfeit pills in 2021, which is a 137% increase from 2019.

Around the country, the prevalence of fentanyl has been growing exponentially, and Idaho is not an exception. In 2021, 44% of all overdose deaths in Idaho were attributed to fentanyl, according to a study done by Facing Fentanyl Now. This number is over double the rate of fentanyl overdoses recorded in the previous year.

The Idaho Harm Reduction Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to “serving the drug-using community of Idaho.”

The organization first began offering services in 2020 and has since become Idaho’s largest distributor of naloxone, a medication that rapidly reverses opioid overdoses, including fentanyl.

“We are interested in providing resources that help everyone who interacts with the drug supply to reduce the risk associated with that behavior … and fentanyl certainly increases those risks to the people that we serve,” said Evan Burke, the community relations program manager for the Idaho Harm Reduction Project.

The Idaho Harm Reduction Project provides all of its services free of charge, which include accessing naloxone as well as fentanyl test strips. The project distributed 3,981 naloxone kits in the first fiscal year of operation, and from that received confirmation of at least 245 overdose reversals from said kits.

Compared to other opiods, fentanyl is much more potent. It only takes 2 milligrams, or the equivalent to a grain of salt, to be deadly, which is why test strips and naloxone can quickly become lifesaving.

Burke said that it is important for anyone who uses drugs, or knows someone who does, to educate themselves on the dangers of fentanyl and to always be prepared with naloxone and test strips.

In 2021, the number of fentanyl overdoses in Idaho doubled from the previous year to 44% of all overdose deaths.

Taya Thornton | The Arbiter

FAST FASHION IS RUINING THE FASHION WORLD, AND YOUR CLOSET

Hanalei Potempa | Culture Editor | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu

With the rise of the fast fashion industry, accessing cheap clothes that keep up with the ever-changing trends is at an all-time high for consumers. However, these shopping habits have proven to be wasteful and a hassle in the long run.

“Fast fashion” can be defined as the rapid and cheap production of clothing that offers consumers the latest fashion trends at a low cost. Although fast fashion provides convenience, plentiful options and the thrill of a good deal, the end result is completely unsatisfying.

Some people claim that our society has normalized shopping as a hobby, leading to a closet that is overflowing with clothes.

I would argue that shopping itself is not the issue. Rather, the problem lies with where and how we are shopping.

Fast fashion brands like Shein, H&M and Forever 21 are the best at following trends, which in this day and age are coming and going faster than ever, especially because of the influence of social media.

Microtrends, trends that rise to popularity quickly and leave the trend cycle even faster, are dominating these clothing racks.

It’s easy to go into these stores and find the latest style with a wide selection of colors and sizes, but the convenience comes to a halt after purchasing due to rapidly decreasing rates of garment usage and satisfaction.

Since 2000, clothing sales have doubled from 100 to 200 billion units a year, and the average usage of a garment has decreased 36%, according to an article from Earth.org.

That’s the thing about microtrends and feeding into them — they come and go so rapidly and thus these clothes go in and

out of style. So how do we avoid this?

First is a new general rule: buy clothes because you love them, not because they’re trendy. Don’t get me wrong — it’s okay to enjoy trends, but you should ask yourself, “Do I like this piece of clothing because it’s ‘in’ right now or because I really like it and it resonates with me?”

In other words, will you wear that piece of clothing when it goes out of style?

Last year I became so frustrated with my closet because I could never put together an outfit I felt happy with. You would think that the more clothes you have the easier it would be to put together a good outfit, but it turns out it’s quite the opposite.

I noticed myself rewearing a few of the same outfits, as well as a few new items I was currently fixated on, though I seemed to be cycling the same few items in and out of use.

In my completely frustrated haze, I gutted my closet and donated everything that I never wore and anything that didn’t go with the style and aesthetic I aspired to dress like — and I learned a few things.

I used to go on shopping sprees online and at the mall, taking advantage of the seasonal sales and discounts offered by mass clothing companies. Unfortunately, these shopping habits led to an overflowing closet full of items I never wore, or wore a few times and got bored of.

Of the pieces I own, I wear some more often than others because they are unique to me and fit my style. They are also mostly pieces that I’ve bought second-hand.

Thrifting and purchasing from sustainable brands allows for the opportunity to find clothing pieces that are specific to your own style and aesthetic, and therefore never go out of style!

Sustainable fashion doesn’t have to be restricted to shopping second-hand. Shopping at small, local clothing stores often offers sustainably made clothing, and some bigger brands you might already know and love are coming out with sustainable lines.

Brands like Adidas, Levi’s and Patagonia are making the shift to clothing made with renewable materials. The important thing here is to do research before shopping mainstream.

Fast fashion was the one thing holding me back from a closet I love, one that allowed me to dress in my own style everyday, easily.

After gutting my closet and shifting my

shopping habits, I now have a closet I love and one that I know how to responsibly shop for.

Since overconsumption itself isn’t necessarily the problem, I don’t restrict the amount of shopping I do, but I do try to buy pieces I know will have longevity in my closet and try to always stick to second hand shopping and eco-friendly brands.

Converting to sustainable fashion might seem like a big change, but it’s not one that has to happen overnight. Start slow and let yourself explore new styles and fashion inspirations. Lean into sustainable shopping and see what happens!

Social media microtrends have harmful effects on sustainability and have led to decreasing rates of garment usage and satisfaction. Elise Ledesma | The Arbiter

The fashion industry is experiencing a loss in individuality; sustainability is the change we need

HUSTLE CULTURE IS HARMFUL; IT’S OKAY TO TAKE A BREAK

People need to create a better work-life balance and combat grind culture

Kiyah Henson | Opinion Editor | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu

In today’s society, the pressure to constantly be busy and stay on top can be crushing.

What many people don’t realize is that there is no winning. It won’t matter how many long hours you work or how fast someone gets a job done; there is always another project to complete and more people to impress.

The early manifestations of productivity culture started in the 1970s and have been made worse by the internet. “Hustle” or “grind” culture is the idea that people need to be maintaining high levels of productivity at all times. It demands that people be constantly working on their goals, whether they be work or personal.

This culture glamorizes the idea of overworking and bases self-worth on how productive someone has been. It is the voice that tells someone they cannot feel good about themselves until they check everything off of their to do list.

Hustle culture has a number of negative affects on people both mentally and physically. This culture fosters anxiety and burnout, and can even increase risk of disease.

In an article from Sampoerna University, they state that people who work more than 50 hours a week have a higher risk of cardiovascular (relating to the heart) and cerebrovascular (relating to the brain) disease. Working these long hours can also cause increased blood pressure and heart rate.

The risk of mental health issues are also increased since burnout can cause workers to feel defeated and lack motivation. Psychreg explains that hustle culture creates an environment of fear and guilt and glorifies overworking that can lead to severe anxiety. This anxiety stems from fear of failure if a person slacks off.

This fear of missing out on time that they could be working holds people back from taking the vacation time off that they’ve accumulated.

Dr. Michelle Bengston states, “Over 46% of Americans admit to having unused vacation time accrued, and almost 20% admitted to having a week or more unused vacation time at the end of the year.”

It’s okay to take time off! In the same article from Dr. Bengston, it’s explained that idleness is healthy and beneficial. Idleness is the state of being inactive and choosing not to do anything for a certain amount of time.

Idleness can increase creativity, help us solve big problems, conserve energy and lead to health improvements. We can practice idleness quite easily by making time for hobbies and passions, setting boundaries and allowing our brains to wander without external stimulation.

With a culture and lifestyle so ingrained in our society, it’s difficult to combat it.

However, there are a number of ways to start combatting productivity culture, and it starts with practicing mindfulness. The recovery from burnout doesn’t happen in one step.

The main thing is to focus on creating a work-life balance that allows for healthy work time and breaks alloted to relax and decompress. This is much easier said than done, so where do we start?

In an article from Cleveland Clinic, experts say to put physical distance between work and home lives, disconnect when at home and to prioritize self-care and take vacations, even if they’re only staycations.

For those who do much of their work at home, it’s especially important to dedicate certain spaces for work and others for relaxing. Working from home may be nice, but after a while the comfort of the space

will be associated with work and productivity, making it hard to unwind.

The days will not run away when you choose to rest for a while. Treating ourselves kindly and prioritizing mental health over a never ending work cycle has greater benefits in the end anyways.

Even just taking a day every once and a while to sleep in and watch a movie or taking an evening off to get dinner with friends. It’s crucial we allow ourselves to enjoy things and let our mind wander.

Self-worth is not measured by how productive one has been, and our bodies will thank us for giving them time to rest and reset.

The modern idea of “hustle culture” glamorizes overworking and can have negative consequences for our physical and mental health. Elise Ledesma | The Arbiter

IS

BOISE STATE BECOMING A BASKETBALL SCHOOL?

HOW BASKETBALL IS TAKING OVER THE BOISE STATE BRAND

Marlei Soderquist | Sports & Rec Reporter | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

by Sasha White

Bronco fans, it’s time to rip off the band-aid: Boise State University may not be a football school anymore.

Every college has their strong suit, an athletic program that excels above all others.

Georgia and Alabama are known for their football programs; Duke and University of North Carolina are known for basketball; Stanford is a volleyball school; University of Florida and Louisiana State University are track-and-field schools, and so on and so forth.

After a long line of triumphant wins including two Fiesta Bowls and Mountain West championships, history has given Boise State the label of a football school.

The future, however, is ever changing, and the future of Boise State Athletics

looks a little different than it did 90 years ago. Boise State may be turning into a basketball school.

Basketball is overtaking the stage for Boise State Athletics, and is dominating.

The history of Boise State football

Boise State football, originally a junior college team, was founded in 1933 under the leadership of head coach Dusty Kline. Since then, the Broncos have seen their fair share of unforgettable wins.

From 1933 to 1967, Boise State football played at the junior college level. While under head coach Lyle Smith, and far before the blue turf was dreamt of, the Broncos won the 1958 NJCAA Championship 22-0 against Tyler College.

One of the least talked about wins in Boise State football history was against Georgia in 2011.

Boise State went into Southeastern Conference (SEC) country, Athens, Georgia, to overpower the Bulldogs on national television, 35-21.

Of course, the two Fiesta Bowls cannot go unmentioned when talking about the Boise State football legacy.

However, one is seemingly more prominent in the minds of Bronco fans: the 2007 Fiesta Bowl.

The 2007 win against Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl stands as the pinnacle of Boise State football history.

Bronco fans know that the Fiesta Bowl win over Oklahoma, 43-42, in overtime is the greatest game in Boise State history. In fact, many regard it as one of the greatest games in football history.

The game was a true David and Goliath story. The Broncos came into the game as

Graphics

“The Broncos have seen their fair share of unforgettable wins. From 1933 to 1967, Boise State football played at the junior college level. While under head coach Lyle Smith, and far before the blue turf was dreamt of, the Broncos won the 1958 NJCAA Championship 22-0 against Tyler College.”

underdogs that were just lucky to be on the big stage and shocked Oklahoma and much of the football world.

“Bronco fans know that the Fiesta Bowl win over Oklahoma, 43-32, in overtime is the greatest fame in Boise State history ... The game was a true David and Goliath story. The Broncos came into the game as underdogs that were just lucky to be on the big stage and shocked Oklahoma.”

When Ian Johnson ran into the end zone for two points and the victory, everything changed for Boise State, and they became a nationally recognized team.

If history was any indication, the Broncos have been known to win national titles at every level they play at, and many wondered: can they possibly do it again? Most would say it is impossible — which is exactly what the Broncos love to hear.

The 2010 Fiesta Bowl championship win against Texas Christian University (TCU) didn’t have as much flare and meaning as the 2007 Fiesta Bowl win did.

It was a defensive battle, but in the end, it was solved by a riddler. “The Riddler” as it was called, was a fake punt by the Broncos that set up the go-ahead touchdown.

It was the fourth quarter, and the Broncos had the ball on their own 33. They needed nine yards for a first, and no one expected them to fake a punt. However, that is what head coach Chris Petersen and his crew called.

Punter Kyle Brotzman threw a pass to tight-end Kyle Efaw who rumbled to the TCU 38. It set up a touchdown that was eventually capped off with a two-yard run by Doug Martin that was good for six. Boise State defeated TCU 17-10.

However, as the history of Boise State football seems to be bright and glamorous,

nothing of late has proven to be as notorious for this program as its past.

The Broncos failed to seal the deal in the Mountain West conference game in 2022 and haven’t had any notable wins since the 2010 Fiesta Bowl.

On the other hand, Boise State Basketball has slowly been on the come up and has steadily been getting better for years.

Boise State basketball’s secret weapon

Boise State football has the iconic blue turf, but what Boise State football doesn’t have is a stable coaching staff. This is where Boise State basketball takes the win.

Behind most every successful athletic program in NCAA history is a successful leader and head coach, from Nick Saban (Alabama football), Mike Krzyzewski (Duke men’s basketball), John Calipari (University of Kentucky men’s basketball), to Kirby Smart (Georgia football) and Geno Auriemma (UCONN women’s basketball).

“If history was any indication, the Broncos have been known to win nationla titles at every level they play at, and many wondered: can they possibly do it again? Most would say it is impossible — which is exactly what the Broncos love to hear.”

Boise State football has had a long run of altering head coaches.

Andy Avalos, the current head coach, signed a $7.75 million contract over the next five years to return to his alma mater.

Prior to Avalos was head coach Bryan Harsin, who departed from Boise State after a six-year tenure (2014-2020).

In 2020, Harsin left for greener pastures in Auburn, in which he didn’t even last two full seasons.

Since the departure of Harsin, Boise State football coaching staff has been in a constant state of change.

Offensive coordinator Tim Plough was fired early into the 2022 season and a new defensive line coach (Erik Chinander) and director of sports performance (Ben Hilgart) were hired. The Broncos also promoted Jabril Frazier to EDGE coach and extended defensive coordinator Spencer Danielson.

Despite the changes, Avalos earned the Coach of the Year accolade and became the first Bronco football head coach to earn the award since Chris Petersen in 2008 and 2009.

In his second year as head coach, Avalos led Boise State to an 8-0 conference record and a Mountain Division title.

Leon Rice, however, has built the Boise State men’s basketball program from the ground up, and will continue to do so for the next four years.

Rice signed a five-year, $5 million contract with Boise State after the successful 2021-2022 season.

In Rice’s 12-year tenure at Boise State, he has led the Broncos to seven NCAA tournament appearances, ten 20-win seasons, and is the winningest coach in Boise State men’s basketball history.

Rice is undoubtedly at the peak of his coaching career.

Despite the established track record, the 2021-2022 campaign set the bar of expectations.

Boise State set program bests for total wins (27), conference wins (15) and consecutive wins (14) on its way to winning the Mountain West regular-season title outright and capturing the Mountain West Tournament crown — both firsts for the program.

Rice was named the Mountain West Coach of the Year for his efforts in 2022. This was his second time claiming the award.

The names behind the game

After last season’s dramatics for Boise State football, it leaves many to wonder about the state of the program.

Former starting quarterback Hank Bachmeier transferred following a dreadful loss to the University of Texas, El Paso (UTEP).

A handful of other players left the program during the offseason, and the incoming recruits for Boise State football are not as glamorous as previous years, whereas

Leon Rice is welcoming star players onto his roster who are well sought after.

One of the newest signees, Chris Lockett Jr., is nationally ranked and was pursued by the likes of Baylor, Georgetown and Houston.

Chibuzo Agbo, the current starting guard for the Broncos, who transferred to Boise State from Texas Tech, is a prime example of great talent within the Boise State men’s basketball program.

“As the basketball season rolls on, and hopes for the Mountain West title loom over the head of the Broncos’ men’s basketball team, the future of Boise State Athletics hangs in the balance. The question stands: will Boise State stay a football school, or is basketball ready to take over?”

Winning character

Winning character is what every collegiate team and program strives to have.

Boise State men’s basketball prides themselves on obtaining that characteristic.

“We do the most important thing well,” Leon Rice said. “That is finding a way to win … what a great quality for a team to have, winning character.”

Boise State basketball currently sits ranked at No. 23 in recent NET rankings, and has proved to be dominant throughout their season with a 20-6 overall record.

The Broncos knocked down Quad 1 team, Texas Tech, early in the season, and have many valuable wins to show for.

As the basketball season rolls on, and hopes for the Mountain West title loom over the head of the Broncos’ men’s basketball team, the future of Boise State Athletics hangs in the balance.

The question stands: will Boise State stay a football school, or is basketball ready to take over?

CULTURE

February 23, 2023 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

BOISE’S FILM INDUSTRY IS JUST GETTING STARTED

Local filmmakers and schools are providing new filmmakers with tools for success on larger projects

Aryanna Alvarado | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Idaho might not be the first place you think of when it comes to filmmaking, but the rapid growth of the local film industry in Boise is challenging that narrative with new paths and experiences for female filmmakers.

Stephanie Cullen is a film producer in Boise and is the CEO and founder of #OMGFemaleFilmmakers, a local production company that creates content for nonprofits.

Since 2015, Cullen has found her passion within helping others tell their stories. Her focus is on creating narrative short films and documentaries for nonprofit organizations such as the Wassmuth Center for Human Rights.

Cullen also films her work locally in Boise and has found struggles related to the business side of local filmmaking. She has a production company space of her own called “OMG Studios Boise” and has found that not many people understand what exactly she does.

“Everyone I talk to [asks], ‘Wait, photography?’” Cullen said.

However, Cullen has also found value in others’ confusion of her craft. She shared that creating locally comes with benefits for the filmmaking process.

“The beauty of it is, because it is such a small place, you’re not out on the streets shooting a movie and then 5 feet away there’s another Hollywood production going on,” Cullen said.

Elizabeth Findley, another local filmmaker, shared that she has struggled to find opportunities in the industry as well.

“There’s not as many opportunities to be on professional sets, so you’re doing a lot of indie work and not getting the experience you need if you want to pursue it full time,” Findley said.

During her education, Findley would often take any opportunity she could to turn her school projects into videos and even participated in the i48 in 2017.

The i48 is a competition in Idaho where filmmaking teams have 48 hours to create an original short film between three and six minutes long. It was during the i48 contest when Findley started taking her filmmaking work more seriously, turning it into a profession.

Findley has worked on projects such as music videos and short films. Findley’s favorite thing about storytelling is sharing messages about topics that people don’t often discuss with one another.

“Even when I do horror films, I do more psychological horror films that talk about issues within relationships and how that can affect people, and [I ask] what gets someone to flip the morality switch,” Findley said. “I think people are more terrifying than creators.”

Findley believes stories that prompt discussions stem from good collaboration with other filmmakers — a part of the storytelling process she enjoys the most.

“The pre-production process is my favorite. Those are the stages where you’re trying to make [the story] come to life and when something works really well. It’s satisfying,” Findley said.

After participating in film competitions throughout Idaho, Findley noticed at times that she was the only female director within the competition. Because of this, Findley tries her best to bring women crew members onto her sets.

“I think women have a different eye at times, and it’s good to collaborate with different perspectives,” Findley said. “Being a woman in film, I think you can bring a different background to a project

and more people should recognize that.”

Findley’s goal is to direct a feature film someday and have her work seen by larger audiences. This excitement is something that makes local communities different from larger cities.

Catrine McGregor, a former adjunct professor in the film department at Boise State, noted that local filmmakers and community members in Boise are not “burned out” yet.

“You’ve got a lot of enthusiasm. People are interested in growing the industry here, and [it’s] a real positive thing,” McGregor said. “The local community is still pretty excited about having films made here. I’ve had experiences where we’ll be filming somewhere and you’ve got neighbors bringing freshly made cookies over to the crew.”

After early experience on larger sets, McGregor emphasized the importance of

film opportunities in Boise and making sure those new to filmmaking are aware of what’s required on a set.

“We don’t get enough studio or professional films in for people to learn, so [they] have no option but to make films on their own and figure out how to do it on the fly,” McGregor said. “But it’s growing and there are more and more professional people coming in.”

McGregor praised Boise State film professors on their ability to incorporate some of the experience that only comes with working on film sets.

“There’s something about the reality of not only what is the job, but everything that goes with it,” McGregor said. “Those are things that are really hard to learn when you’re just in a school setting, so I think there needs to be both and Boise State is moving towards that, which is encouraging.”

The filmmaking scene is growing in Boise, and with it come new opportunities for women filmmakers in Idaho.

Illustration by Sydney Smith

NEW GRANT OPPORTUNITY MADE AVAILABLE BY CAMPUS PHILANTHROPY BOARD

Boise State’s new Student Philanthropy Board looks to create a “culture of giving” on campus

Emily Gordon | Culture Reporter |

“We are genuinely accessible and eager to get ourselves out there,” said Nathaniel Campbell, an urban studies major and member of the Philanthropy Board. “We are just students.”

Student organizations can apply for this grant to help launch their own philanthropic organizations that affect Boise State’s campus. A club can then put use to these philanthropic dollars by creating their own “culture of giving” with the help of the Student Philanthropy Board.

Philanthropy can be confusing. The average student might automatically associate the unfamiliar term with big names like Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates.

In reality, the concept of Philanthropy is much more simple than people think. Philanthropy describes the desire to promote welfare for others through generous financial donations and support.

The new Boise State Student Philanthropy Board, located in the Alumni and Friends Building, is here to get students involved in philanthropy and bring more

community to Boise State’s campus.

“I enjoy that we’re student-led,” said Calvin Doerr, a kinesiology major and one of 22 student members selected to represent the board and vote in their upcoming grant release.

With $12,500 to give away this semester, these students are ready to hear from their peers and put the funds to use with guidance from the philanthropy board staff.

Sydney Montgomery, director of student and recent graduate programs, shared that the board wants to support

clubs on campus by creating an opportunity to learn about grant writing and have the chance to receive philanthropic dollars.

“We just want to introduce philanthropy to students,” said psychology student and board member Kerrigan Bull. “To grow the culture of giving on campus.”

Bull and other student members of this organization are excited to listen to their peers and help assist any dreams they want to pursue, and they want to negate the intimidation students may feel when they apply.

The board itself is near endowment, meaning it will continue to be offered year after year, sustaining the cycle of philanthropy throughout Boise State.

Created in August 2022, the students have worked tirelessly to get their name out and make sure their peers know about the opportunities available to them. Applications are open until Feb. 26. Presentations to the student board will be heard shortly thereafter. Madeline Gregg, a grant writer at Boise State, is available to teach students how to write the grants needed for this application process.

The Student Philanthropy Board is an exciting new addition to Boise State’s campus. With the students that run the board and the guidance provided by campus faculty, they are excited to listen to their peers and help kick off more philanthropic initiatives students may have.

The new Student Philanthropy Board at Boise State is on a mission to make philanthropy more approachable, starting with $12,500 in funds to give away. Photo courtesy of The Land Group

“We just want to introduce philanthropy to students ... [and] grow the culture of giving on campus.”

- Kerrigan Bull,

psychology major and Boise State Student Philan thropy Board member

CULTURE

MEET LOCAL POP-PUNK BAND RACCOON TOUR

Raccoon Tour’s Nate Burr speaks on the band’s history and offers advice to young local artists

Ella Van Leuven | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Self-described as “a bastard child of The Used meets Twenty One Pilots meets Cavetown,” Raccoon Tour is a pop-punk band started by Boise local Nate Burr.

Raccoon Tour began in 2014 when Burr received a ukulele for Christmas. Inspired to act on his passion and create his own music, Burr chose to record “Sofarinrunning” for his senior project, the song that paved the way for the Raccoon Tour’s growth and success.

The band has grown exponentially since it started, with around 40,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and over 1.5 million plays on their top song, “Sorry Sarah.”

After their song “Sofarinrunning” blew up on platforms like Soundcloud, Spotify and DistroKid, Raccoon Tour signed with “I Surrender Records,” going on to release “The Dentonweaver,” the band’s first album.

Burr discussed some of the challenges the band experienced in creating “The Dentonweaver.”

“The problem was, I had next to no experience writing and recording music … We recorded, re-recorded, and re-re-recorded since that was essentially my learning period to figure out how to make music,” Burr said.

Burr mentioned the most daunting parts of Raccoon Tour’s growth in Boise’s music industry.

“It was pretty intense learning how to work with musicians, a DAW (digital audio workstation) and keep a consistent vision while also trying to meet the expectations of a label that probably thought I knew a bit more about what I was doing,” Burr said.

Raccoon Tour is currently composed of Natt Burr, Trey Wells (lead guitarist), Jeremy Abbot (rhythm guitarist), Angus McBangus (bass) and Randy McCurdy (drums).

“All of them are talented, brilliant and super cool wonderful human beings who

we hold in high regard,” Burr said.

Burr described the band’s music as “unpretentious sad pop-punk music.”

The group’s music is all written on a ukulele. Because of this, the band uses simpler chord progressions with major key signatures to keep their songs upbeat and fun.

Burr explained that Boise has greatly influenced his work as an artist. Both the group’s name and the album cover of the Dentonweaver are references to his hometown.

“I’ve spent my entire life in the Treasure Valley, and it has influenced every single aspect of Raccoon Tour,” Burr said. “Even the name ‘Raccoon Tour’ is in reference to a raccoon that went around my childhood neighborhood and killed everyone’s pet cats that were left out for the night.”

Burr continued to describe Boise’s influence on his work.

“The album cover of the Dentonweaver is an artist portrayal of the view outside

my childhood bedroom window, overlooking the real life Trophy Street in Kuna,” Burr said.

“I learned how to play music at the Hive, I saw shows at the Shredder, I made friends in house show garages,” Burr said. “Idaho is in our very bones, and I’m rather patriotic about this neck of the woods, minus some backwards sick politics. The culture and people out here are amazing.”

Burr discussed the necessity of the learning process for musicians and encouraged young musicians to be making any music, even though it can be especially frustrating starting out.

“My advice to younger musicians is to suck. Give yourself time to be awful, learn your craft, figure out what works and what doesn’t, and don’t buy into a growth mindset too early,” Burr said.

Burr advised musicians new to the industry to avoid letting analytics, algorithms, TikTok retention and ticket sales guide their artistic choices.

“People are smart enough to know when they’re being sold to, and there’s nothing lamer than a group trying to present themselves as some commercial juggernaut when they’re still playing living rooms,” Burr said.

Burr offered his most important piece of advice to young musicians: go to other local shows! Shows at places like The Shredder, Neurolux and house shows are all great opportunities for smaller artists to make connections with “the movers and shakers of Boise, the performing artists, and the potential listeners you may have someday.”

“Boise is a shockingly spectacular place to be in as a musician or music fan. Anyone reading who isn’t already attending these shows: Get out there! See these incredible acts! Meet these amazing people. Open yourself up to an amazing community of artists. It’s wonderful,” Burr said.

Boise local Nate Burr founded pop-punk band Raccoon Tour, which has found resounding success in the local music scene and boasts 40,000 monthly listeners on Spotify.

Photo courtesy of Raccoon Tour

WHAT

BLACK HISTORY MONTH LOOKS LIKE ON BOISE STATE’S CAMPUS

How one organization is making a big impact on campus inclusivity efforts

Emily Gordon | Culture Reporter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

to take stylish pictures all dressed up.

Arturo Valadez, a freshman at Boise State, attended the gala and really enjoyed his experience.

“I really enjoyed being in such an inclusive environment and hearing about diversity and the adversity that students of color and marginalized students can accomplish if we come together,” Valadez said.

After a near two-year hiatus, the BSA is back in full-motion to bring inclusivity and acceptance to Boise State’s campus. Valadez is just one example of students that are excited to take part in the experience.

Boise State freshman and new member of the Black Student Association Tamera Judon wants to share the work done by the BSA. Judon, who had never before heard of the BSA and took a chance by attending the gala, was inspired by the accomplishments of the BSA but questioned why it seems to still be a relatively unseen organization.

“Hopefully it will reach more people,” Judon said.

During the month of February, Black History Month is celebrated around the country, and of course here at Boise State. Acknowledging and taking part in the celebrations of the rich history of this month is important, and Boise State University’s Black Student Association is doing just that.

Jason Holman, a political science major and president of the Black Student Association (BSA), was eager to spread the word regarding their Black History Month gala that occurred Feb. 2 in the Jordan Ballroom on campus.

Holman is responsible for the creating and organizing the Black History Month gala, with the help of the MLK Living Legacy organization and the Student Equity Center.

The gala was filled with a multitude of diverse students and local members of the community, all dressed up to take part in the festivities and speeches that occurred throughout the event.

“We are here to uplift and pursue black excellence,” Holman said.

tol, and even brought Dr. Ibram X. Kendi to campus.

Kendi, a New York Times bestselling author recognized on Times magazine’s “100 most influential people” list for his “anti-racist” activism and scholarly work in American discrimination policies, was invited to Boise State to discuss the importance of race theory and the ongoing impact of racism on our world.

The BSA and MLK Living Legacy also worked to implement a new scholarship program that will be available to students this summer. The details are still in the process of being finalized according to Holman.

These organizations also coordinated the MLK Day of Greatness March and Rally, held on Jan. 16 at the Idaho Capi-

With more than 300 people attending the gala, many students found excitement simply being there. Students sang and danced, while some took the opportunity

For those who missed the gala, Holman assures that more events like these are on their way, with a gala of this magnitude occurring yearly.

With Boise State University having a rather low percentage of students of color, organizations like the Black Student Alliance and MLK Living Legacy are sure to provide a welcoming community to those searching for it.

Both of these smaller organizations are working hard to leave a big impact. The new scholarship, rallies and formal events are ways that students can connect with their peers and accomplish their dreams.

To all students that feel they are looking for their people, the BSA is waiting patiently for you and is accepting new members constantly. Reach out to them and take part in something big, or simply find your community here at Boise State.

The Black Student Association at Boise State started off 2023 by hosting the MLK Day of Greatness March and Rally and invited Dr. Ibram X. Kendi to campus as a keynote speaker.

Emily Gordon | The Arbiter

“I really enjoyed being in such an inclusive environment.”

- Arturo Valadez, freshman student at Boise State

SPORTS & REC

February 23, 2023 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

MEN’S CLUB SOCCER AIMS TO BE RESPECTED LIKE A VARSITY SPORT

The Boise State men’s club soccer team hopes to see increased community support

Alexandra East | Staff Writer | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

The Boise State men’s club soccer team has spent countless hours each semester crafting their skills only to be discouraged by the lack of fans that attend their games.

From 6 a.m. practices to the endless back-to-back workouts off the field, each of the players on the club soccer team has sacrificed valuable time to produce successful outcomes for their team.

“We get up around 5:30 a.m. for practice four times a week,” said sophomore defender Brady Zocco. “A lot of times people look down on you for saying that you are a club sport athlete. However, I talk to old teammates that are collegiate athletes who say we are working just as hard as them, if not more.”

Although the team puts in a significant amount of effort on a weekly basis and plays their games on Lincoln Field, located near the heart of campus, they are not getting the turnout they hope to get.

The men’s club soccer team is in a unique position alongside other club sports because there is no varsity men’s soccer team at Boise State.

While putting in the same amount of effort as the Division I athletes, they hope

to draw in the same crowds and attract the fans who want to watch men’s soccer at a high level.

“We really play because we love it,” said senior striker Zack Tyree. “Division I athletes have a lot of incentives that we are not offered. We are practicing 10 hours a week, but we don’t have a nutritionist. We don’t have a strength and conditioning coach, and we don’t have trainers coming to take care of us before and after practices.”

The team has valued hard work since they began the program a few years ago. They strive to have a winning record each season while competing against some of

the toughest club programs in the West including national champions BYU.

“The lack of fans motivates us to get a lot of people to understand why we’re here and why we’re playing,” Zocco said. “If we can get them to games and entertain them and show them that we can be just as good as Division I athletes, I think that will bring a lot of light to our team.”

Besides wanting to attract supporting students by creating a winning and entertaining atmosphere within the program, the team desires support from their peers and community at Boise State.

“Being on the other end of it and being the person that was watching the game, I

would say it really brings out the supportive side of wanting to be out there and wanting to support,” said senior defender Ryan Arzu. “Whether it’s a club or not, Division I or not, I am supporting the people that go to my school and that I see regularly in the classroom.”

This team has proven that their hard work and dedication to the sport without all the benefits can still amount to successful outcomes. The cherry on top for this program would be the supporting students and community to go along with their undeniable passion for the game of soccer.

The absence of varsity resources and cheering fans won’t hinder Boise State club soccer’s plans of performing like Division I athletes. Photo courtesy of the Boise State men’s club soccer team

“If we can ... show [students] that we can be just as good as Division I athletes, I think that will bring a lot of light to our team.”

- Sophomore

defender

Brady Zocco

A FOUL WIN: BOISE STATE DEFEATS UNLV 73-69 IN A DOWN-TO-THE-WIRE GAME

Marlei Soderquist | Sports & Rec Reporter | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

late into the half proved to be crucial for a last-minute Bronco push.

The Rebels’ foul trouble aided the Broncos to score 10 of their last 18 points in the half from the free-throw line.

The Broncos regained a 38-32 lead entering halftime.

Opening up the second half, things weren’t looking too bright.

The Broncos quickly loosened their control after back-to-back turnovers and a foul, giving way to the Rebels to make a slight comeback and even the score 38-38.

Both teams fell back into foul trouble quickly, making each free throw and play even more crucial than the last.

With just 58 seconds left in the game, the most intense competition emerged.

Throughout the game, fouls and free throws were at the center of a heated debate. Both teams combined for 35 fouls, 15 of which came from the Broncos.

Fouls were the center of attention during the Boise State Broncos’ 73-69 win against University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) on Feb. 19.

With 35 total foul calls in the contest, the down-to-the-wire game was shaped by its large number of foul calls and free throws.

The first half was one of the most competitive, explosive and dramatic halves of this season.

Starting off early in the half, fifth-year senior guard Marcus Shaver Jr. scored his 1,000th point as a Bronco, a feat only 28 other Broncos have accomplished.

“It means a lot,” Shaver said. “Being here at this program, playing for coach (Leon Rice), my teammates. It means a lot. I didn’t even know I scored 1,000 to be honest … but there’s other things we’re trying to achieve here.”

In one of his last games at ExtraMile Arena, Shaver reflected on his time as a

Bronco.

“It did hit me, I’m not going to lie,” Shaver said. “When I came out of the locker room, I saw all the fans cheering. It did hit me for a minute … that’s all I have to say. I don’t want to get emotional here.”

The early celebrations were cut short by a competitive UNLV squad.

Though many anticipated the Broncos would dominate UNLV by a wide margin, it was quite the opposite.

“I think they are one of the better Quad-3 teams in the nation,” redshirt senior guard Max Rice said. “We were a little worried about them … it was a good Mountain West game tonight.”

The Rebels had a response for nearly every point Boise State scored. Pairing that with a strong defense and multiple blocked shots, UNLV garnered a 26-19 lead over the Broncos late in the first half.

Despite a poor shooting half by the Broncos (35.5%), UNLV’s foul trouble

12 points were scored in under one minute as the down-to-the-wire game was determined by mere foul calls and free throws.

Two fouls were drawn on Shaver leading to four successful free throws, although the Rebels had an answer. UNLV knocked down two three-pointers to make the score 71-69.

“Those were two three-pointers we did not expect them to make,” Shaver said. “But we kept our composure and just knocked down our free throws.”

The third foul drawn on Bronco veteran Shaver was the last straw.

The Broncos’ two free-throw shots sealed the 73-69 wins for Boise State.

“This league has been great, and we have embraced the competition,” head coach Leon Rice said. “You have to play good to win these games … do whatever it takes, and that is what this team has been doing.”

Shaver came up big in this game — not just making his mark on his Bronco

legacy with 1,000 career points, but also knocking down six consecutive free throws when his team needed it the most.

“Just breathe,” Shaver said about his crucial last-second free throws. “Knowing that I have been in that situation before … just one shot at a time.”

One of the newer additions to the game was the early incorporation of the bench players.

Leon Rice began to rearrange the starting lineup early and continued to do so throughout the game.

Though the struggles on the bench have been evident throughout the season, fifthyear senior center Lukas Milner has been a shining star these last two games.

“I probably should’ve had more minutes for [Lukas],” head coach Leon Rice said. “But you have your guys we are secure with … we don’t win that game without him playing the way he did.”

Milner went 3-3 from the field, nine points and the best plus-minus (+/-) of all the Broncos (21).

As the Broncos look to close out the season with just four games left before the Mountain West tournament, the team is ready to kick it into high gear.

“Oh we’re hungry,” Shaver said. “Everybody in the locker room is hungry. We know we are so close to our goal … we can’t take one game off … nothing is given in the Mountain West.”

The reigning Mountain West conference champions are looking to go backto-back and return to Boise as champions once again.

“We really want it,” Max Rice said. “We know the feeling of storming the court and winning it all … that’s what we’ve been working toward. We’re not playing to get second, so we’re going to leave it all out there on these last four games left till the tournament.”

Marcus Shaver Jr. scored his 1,000th point, a feat only accomplished by 28 other Broncos, during the team’s game against UNLV. Corissa Campbell | The Arbiter

The Broncos’ triumphant victory helps them hold onto hope heading into last part of the season

BOISE STATE CLUB BASEBALL RANKED NO. 24 IN THE NATION

Although the club baseball team lacks campus-wide recognition, they hope to make it on top this season

Adam Bridges | Sports & Rec Editor | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

The Boise State club baseball team is nationally ranked, yet their reputation remains largely unknown.

Despite lacking the resources they would receive as a varsity team, the Broncos’ play has earned national recognition this season.

“They released the preseason rankings and we were ranked 24th in the nation for the (National College Baseball Association),” said junior club treasurer Jacob David. “That’s the first time in school history we have ever done that, so we were very proud of that news.”

The team maintained their preseason rankings and are still the 24th-ranked team, according to the NCBA’s latest week 12 poll on Feb. 9.

This ranking is well deserved, as the team went 10-2 overall and 6-0 in conference last fall.

The team also has two all-American players (second-team all-American catcher Rory Patterson and third-team all-American third baseman Mark Schneiber) and one all-Region player (second-team all-Region pitcher Thomas Durkin), which gives them confidence to succeed

this spring.

“This is probably the most talent we’ve had on the team,” David said. “The talent in our infield and outfield is really deep.”

The team’s first game this spring is against the University of Nevada, Reno, and they will play No. 3 Utah State after.

“There’s some good competition that’s going on early in the season,” Patterson said. “My main focus is getting prepared for those teams. If we win those series, we’re almost guaranteed to have first place in the conference.”

Although the team has experienced success and national accreditation, they are still missing one thing: peer recognition.

“I’d say the main difference from club teams, such as lacrosse or rugby, is they’re more well known,” Patterson said. “They are more well-known throughout the campus, and they generate a larger crowd. We try to promote through our social media and put up banners in the Quad, but I feel like our presence is not as known.”

The team also cannot play on campus like other club sports because there are no baseball fields at Boise State. They have to instead play at Fort Boise Park located downtown.

“The other club teams play pretty much in the middle of campus, so somebody could be accidentally driving by and see a

club game and stop by,” Patterson said.

Despite the issues they face with campus recognition, the team remains optimistic about coming out on top because they are Boise State baseball.

“I want people to know that we’re Boise State baseball since we don’t have the varsity team,” Patterson said. “I know there are a lot of baseball fans that both do and don’t go to Boise, and I just want them to know that we are here and we are Boise State baseball.”

The Boise State club baseball team has earned national recognition this season despite lack of resources enjoyed by varsity teams. Photo courtesy of Boise State club baseball

“I want people to know that we’re Boise State baseball since we don’t have a varsity team. I know there are a lot of baseball fans that both do and don’t go to Boise, and I just want them to know that we are here.”

- Rory Patterson, catcher for Boise State club baseball

CAPRICORN

DEC 22 - JAN 19

A DEEP DIVE ON THAT RANDOM THOUGHT YOU HAD EARLIER IS GOING TO BE THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR DAY

AQUARIUS

JAN 20 - FEB 18

YOUR MONTHLY BUDGETING LOOKS A LITTLE OFF, BETTER DOUBLE YOUR DOWNTOWN FUNDS

PISCES

FEB 19 - MAR 20

DON’T DOWNPLAY YOUR RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS, BUT DON’T FORGET TO RIDE THE WAVE OF PRODUCTIVITY WHILE YOU’RE AT IT!

ARIES

MAR 21 - APR 19

FIND AN ART PROJECT TO DO, IT MAY CALM YOUR FIRE FOR A DAY

OUR BEST GUESS

THE ARBITER ALIGNS YOUR STARS

CANCER

JUN 21 - JUL 22

LOOK OUT FOR A MESSAGE FROM A LOVED ONE. LOVE LETTER? FRIENDLY TEXT? WHO KNOWS.

TAURUS

APR 20 - MAY 20

GO CROSS SOMETHING OFF YOUR TO-DO LIST RIGHT NOW!

LEO

JUL 23 - AUG 22

JOURNALING ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS TODAY WILL MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER THAN YOU EXPECT!

GEMINI

MAY 21 - JUN 20

YOU SHOULD PROBABLY GET TO THAT CHORE YOUR ROOMMATE’S BEEN BUGGING YOU ABOUT

PISCES

VIRGO

AUG 23 - MAY 20

LIBRA

SEPT 23 - OCT 22

LIVE IN THE PRESENT FOR THE REST OF YOUR DAY– YOU CAN DO IT, I PROMISE

SCORPIO

OCT 23 - NOV 21

GO TAKE A BREAK– MEDIATION, HOT GIRL WALK, NAP, YOU NAME IT

SAGITTARIUS

NOV 22 - DEC 21

FEB 19 - MAR 20 DESIGN@STUMEDIA.BOISESTATE.EDU

DOT MARTIN GRAPHIC DESIGNER

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR CURRENT CREATIVE ENERGY BEFORE IT STOPS FLOWING

YOU’VE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT YOUR JOB FOR WEEKS NOW, GO OPEN HANDSHAKE

ILLUSTRATION BY ALIEHA DRYDEN